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Overview, Game Changer: The Collector, his sideways sidekick, the CM and the game of musical chairs
It used to be ‘the end justifies the means’, and the end was always the turnstiles. So, the end was always the same, only the means, or the ways of getting there, were different. Then it became ‘the means are the same, since the end is the same’. So we had similarity in approach too, with only a semblance of difference. Finally, we have reached a stage where ‘the t...
LoveYaPa, Trailer and song launch: Aamir dominates press and fan meet, speaks with characteristic candour
It was a roller-coaster ride for the attendees, and a personal nostalgia trip for me, when the title song and trailer of the forthcoming film, LoveYaPa (a pun on Love or Pa), releasing on 07 February, the week preceding Valentine’s Day, in the presence of media and fans. The day was today and the venue was New Excelsior Cinema, now under Mukta A2 ownership, and the time was…w...
Love is Forever, Overview: Unrequited love, unimpressive expression
If one were to take a count of films made on the theme of love, in all its splendour, one might find that the overwhelming majority of films made in the past 100 years have love at their core: filial love, maternal love, paternal love, love between spouses, flirtation, love as lust, love as a pursuit, patriotic love, spiritual love, love of a game, platonic love, sublime love, triangular love and unrequited love, are some exa...
Third Eye Asian Film Festival opens its eyes for the 21st time on January 10
A regular fixture for Mumbaikars and environs inhabitants, a hallmark of Maharashtra's film culture, the Third Eye Asian Film Festival will be held from January 10th to January 16, 2025, in Mumbai and Thane, at the outskirts of Mumbai city. A curated selection of 61 films will be screened at MovieMax Theatres in Andheri, Sion, and Thane. The festival will open with the Chinese film 'The Black Dog', which ...
The Heist, by M.K. Shankar: Screenplay-dialogue book review
Not many directors/writers publish the screenplay of a film they could not, or did not, make. So, it was surprising when M.K. Shankar, who I first met some 33 years ago, presented me a copy of The Heist, recently. The screenplay of The Heist-One World One Government, is not to be confused with The Heist, a 2024 Hindi-language crime thriller film, directed by Aditya Awandhe, starring Nad Sham, Suman Rao and Siddhanth Kapoor. The scree...
Sky Force trailer launch: Aerial action beyond enemy lines
After a spate of films about military engagement and espionage across the border, we have a movie that rises in the air and traces the action of the air force, in 1965. The film is titled Sky Force and its trailer was launched last week at the PVR Cineplex at Juhu, Mumbai. Starring Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan, the film introduces Veer Paharia, an assistant director who graduates to a romantic lead with the film. Akshay and Veer wer...
Our Guest from the Future, Review: Russian Film Festival stutters at the end
Our Guest from the Future was the closing film of the Russian film festival, held during December 12-15 at Cinépolis, Andheri West, Mumbai. It attracted almost double the capacity of Auditorium No. 4, the day being Sunday, a weekly holiday here. That caused an inordinate delay in starting the film. Finally, the film was screened, and, sadly so, it was the only weak link in the five film package. Although it wa...
Ice 3, Review: Russian film festival’s six-pack of ice
While Mumbaikars were still mulling to dig into their winter-wardrobe, the Russian Film Festival laid out the white carpet, with huge sheets of ice several kilometres long, for the film was set in the freezing north. Mumbai’s winter would make us blush when compared to North Russia, where the temperatures can be much lower 0 degrees Celsius. This was of course, with solid reason. The fifth of their six-film package, Ice 3, was...
Pirates of the Barracuda Galaxy, Review: Russian Film Festival maintains its tempo, with adrenaline online
Missing out on just one film so far, I have seen three of the four films screened, at the ongoing Russian Film Festival, at Cinépolis, New Link Road, Andheri West, Mumbai. The festival began with the wrestling film Triumph, on 12th December, I could not make it in time for the second film, The Flying Ship, on the 13th. My review of Triumph was included in the coverage of the film ...
Mahayogi-Highway 1 to Happiness, Review: An impassioned monologue for universal peace and tolerance
There are films and there are films. Some are routine, masala, formulaic films, and there are path-breaking, experimental films, off the beaten track. There are also films that can barely be called films. These are genre-defying (which is the experimental part) and grammar-denying (which is the indulgent part). Mahayogi-Highway 1 to Heaven (English) is one such film. 90% of the film is a ...
IFFI 2024, 22: Nithya Menen and the Power of Nuance
National award-winning actress, Nithya Menen, shared her insights into the art of acting, at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Known for her nuanced performances in films like Thiruchitrambalam and OK Kanmani, the National Awardee spoke about the power of subtlety, the importance of emotional authenticity, and the challenges that come with portraying complex, real-world characters.
Nithya began by reflecting on her pr...
IFFI 2024, 21: Karkhanu, Rador Pakhi and Google Matrimony
Karkhanu meaning Factory, was Gujarat's first Smart Horror Comedy, bringing the eerie Haunted Factory legend to life. On Kali Chaudas (part of the auspicious annual Diwali celebrations in India) night, three carpenters are trapped in a ghostly workshop, where bizarre events force them to uncover its secrets before it's too late. A thrilling mix of suspense, humour and horror.
Rador (morning sunshine) Pakhi (birds) tells the tr...
IFFI 2024, 20: Kandhaar-The Battle of Silk Route, showcased at Film Bazaar
The grand trailer and first look of the web series, Kandhaar - The Battle of Silk Route, were unveiled at the Film Bazaar in Goa, conducted on the sidelines of IFFI. This magnum opus, a historical drama set in the Himalayan ranges of the year 1390, explores themes of valour, betrayal, redemption, and justice. Written and directed by Shahid Kazmi, the series weaves a tale of courage, resilience, and leadership.
Set i...
Ladakhi-language Short Film, Ghar Jaisa Kuch, directed by an independent director, Harsh Sangani. Opened the short film package at IFFI 2024, IFFI NO. 55, November 2024.
The film explores the perpetual conflict between a person’s will to adhere to his inherited traditions and pursuing his future aspirations. The film has depicted this struggle in a unique way, where the spirits of the protagonist’s parents play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative. The plot has captured the lan...
At the 55th International Film festival of India, the following films, and casts, were awarded on the Closing session, held on 28th December 2024, afternoon. Democracy ruled, in that no entry won more than one prize.
‘Toxic’, Lithuania, won Golden Peacock, for the Best film, at IFFI 2024. Director, Saulė Bliuvaitė will share the Golden Peacock Trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs. 40,00,000, with the producer, Giedre Burokaite. The Jury praised the film for its d...
Continuing and concluding my experiences of watching films at IFFI 2024, and walking out usually, after 30-40 minutes.
MEETING WITH POL POT France, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Taiwan, Qatar, Turkey
Three persons credited with the Screenplay, one of them being the author of the book, When the War was over: Cambodia and the, Khmer Rouge Revolution, by Elizabeth Becker, which must have been the basis of the film. Directed by Rithy Panh.
It was nothing like I had expected from the tile and the ...
IFFI 2024, 16: Quality of films seen and the recurring walk-outs
You may find it incredible that I walked out of so many films, and I find it terrible that I had to. Never, in my living memory, have I walked out of so many films at any given film festival. IFFI 2024, however, took the cake. In the recent past, with films being polarised into block-buster, but inane, action extravaganzas and the well-intentioned small films that just do not have it in them to hold a viewer’s interest, ther...
IFFI 2024, 15: Accreditation for media-persons, and what they should expect if and when it is granted
Setting-up and Opening MyIFFI (your account at the website), you can register on a form for getting accreditation as a media-person, to attend the International Film Festival of India, which is held regularly in Panaji, Goa (since 2004). If you fill the form correctly, meeting their expectations, some of which are very demanding, you will get a response that your application is registered. Th...
Pushpa means flower in Hindi. Our protagonist is not a flower, but a fire. Not any ordinary fire, but as he declares, to his nemesis, Shekhawat, “wild fire.”. This ‘flowery wild fire’ learns the skill of swimming and holding his breath underwater for much longer than the average swimmer, instantaneously, when forced to fetch a cricket ball from the bottom of a pond. Apparently illiterate, or, at best, semi-literate, he lives in the Chittoor district of Telangana, so his...
IFFI 2024, 14: The State Minister, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting does a recce of the locations
When he was the Chief Minister of Goa, late Manohar Parrikar, personally supervised the upgrading of the roads and structures of the location, Panaji City. He was known as the most unassuming and hands-on Chief Minister in the country. That was in 2004, which was the year when Goa held its first IFFI. I personally saw him at work, doing all the duties that were demanded of a responsible...
IFFI 2024, 13: OOH La La Gala prèmieres and bouncers to protect the carpetbaggers
Gala premieres have become the most glamourous part of IFFI after it moved to Go, in 2004. They do draw audiences and photographers, but the regular film critic and film journalist is kept away from them. Camera and microphone men and women, who never bark but only byte, are the persons for whom this ceremony is engineered. Bouncers and other security personnel accompany the film team, as they are first l...
IFFI 2024, 12: Creative Minds of tomorrow, and their five outstanding films
Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) is a platform designed to showcase the work of absolute beginners with enhanced to support 100 young talents, up from 75 in previous editions
The number of participants in this section are a full 100. Last year, 75 young talents were picked, to co-incide with the 75 years of Independence. Five CMOT Champions are being will be recognised for their exceptional journeys. As the largest ...
IFFI 2024, 11: The competition section for international recognition
At IFFFI Goa 2024, the competition films are divided into two sections: Indian Panorama and the international competetion section. We have already listed the Panorama films in an earlier post. Now let us see which films of which directors and from which countries these films come. All films are sub-titled in English, according to international norms. Their screenings are held as part of the regular daily schedule, and someti...
The Sabarmati Report, Review: Pass or fail?
One song that is closely associated with Sabarmati goes ‘Dey dee hamen aazaadee bina khadag bina dhal, Sabarmati key sant tooney kar diya kamaal.’ The Sant (Saint) in this context was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma (great spirit) Gandhi, whom it extolls, for gaining independence for India by, non-violent means. Outside Gujarat, Indians know Sabarmati as a river in Gujarat, and the Sabarmati Express as a train. Wherea...
IFFI 21024, 10: Five Indian films to compete for newly instituted DEBeaUTiful film award
With an aim to promote new and young talent in the country, the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has instituted a new award category: Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film, which will showcase five remarkable debut films that highlight new perspectives, diverse narratives, and innovative cinematic styles, from across India. IFFI, scheduled to be held from November 20-28...
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About Siraj Syed
 Syed Siraj
(Siraj Associates)
Siraj Syed is a film-critic since 1970 and a Former President of the Freelance Film Journalists' Combine of India.
He is the India Correspondent of FilmFestivals.com and a member of FIPRESCI, the international Federation of Film Critics, Munich, Germany
Siraj Syed has contributed over 1,015 articles on cinema, international film festivals, conventions, exhibitions, etc., most recently, at IFFI (Goa), MIFF (Mumbai), MFF/MAMI (Mumbai) and CommunicAsia (Singapore). He often edits film festival daily bulletins.
He is also an actor and a dubbing artiste. Further, he has been teaching media, acting and dubbing at over 30 institutes in India and Singapore, since 1984.
Bandra West, Mumbai India View my profileSend me a message
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